Bulk hauling freight car unloading apparatus 
and method of operation

ABSTRACT

AN APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING BULK CARGO FROM A TRAIN OF FREIGHT CARS OF THE GONDOLA OR HOPPER TYPE IS PROVIDED. THE UNLOADING APPARATUS COMPRISES A HELICAL LOOP OF TRACK HAVING A HORIZONTAL AXIS AND WITH A LOOP EXTENDING VERTICALLY AND POSITIONED SUCH THAT A TRAIN OF A LARGE NUMBER OF OPEN TOP HOPPER CARS IS PUSHED THROUGH THE LOOP IN A MANNER WHEREIN THE OPEN TOPS OF THE CARS ALWAYS FACES THE CENTER OF THE LOOP WHILE THE CARS ARE PASSING THROUGH THE LOOP. A SECOND, INNER LOOP OF GUIDE DEVICES IS PROVIDED TO ENGAGE THE CARS ADJACENT THE OPEN END THEREOF IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE CARS WHILE THEY ARE INVERTED OR PARTIALLY INVERTED AS THEY PASS THROUGH THE LOOP. A LOAD RETENTION DEVICE IS PROVIDED ALONG A PORTION OF THE LOOP TO RETAIN THE CARGO IN THE CARS AS THE CARS ARE BEING PARTIALLY INVERTED BY PASSING THROUGH THE LOOP TO PREVENT PREMATURE DUMPING OF THE CARGO. IN CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS, MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR ADJUSTING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER LOOPS TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT CAR SIZES.

DEFENSIVE PUBLICATION UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Published at the request 0! the applicant or owner in accordance with the Notice of Dec. 16, 1969, 869 0.6. 887. The abstracts of Defensive Publication applications are identified by distinctly numbered series and are arranged chronologically. The heading of each abstract indicates the number of pages of specification, including claims and sheets 0! drawings contained in the application as originally filed. The files or these applications are available to the public for inspection and reproduction may be purchased for 80 cents a sheet.

Defensive Publication applications have not been examined as to the merits of alleged invention. The Patent Oiiice makes no assertion as to the novelty or the disclosed subject matter.

PUBLISHED MAY 7, 1974 T922,002 BULK HAULING FREIGHT CAR UNLOADING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATION Paul W. McCormick, 723 Oak St, Johnstown, Pa. 15902 Filed Aug. 13, 1973, Ser. No. 387,804 Int. Cl. B25g 67/34 US. Cl. 214-62 R 5 Sheets Drawing. 8 Pages Specification An apparatus for unloading bulk cargo from a train of freight cars of the gondola or hopper type is provided. The unloading apparatus comprises a helical loop of track having a horizontal axis and with a loop extending vertically and positioned such that a train of a large number of open top hopper cars is pushed through the loop in a manner wherein the open tops of the cars always faces the center of the loop while the cars are passing through the loop. A second, inner loop of guide devices is provided to engage the cars adjacent the open end thereof in order to support the cars While they are inverted or partially inverted as they pass through the loop. A load retention device is provided along a portion of the loop to retain the cargo in the cars as the cars are being partially inverted by passing through the loop to prevent premature dumping of the cargo.

In certain embodiments, means are provided for adjusting the distance between the inner and outer loops to accommodate different car sizes.

RW'CK T922,002

UNLOADLNG APPARATUS PERATION May 7, 1974 P. w. Mcco BULK HAULING FREIGHT CAR AND METHOD OF 0 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

MCCORMICK AND METHOD OF OPERATION BULK HAULINU FREIGHT CAR UNLOADLNG APPARATUS May 7, 1974 Filed Aug. 15. 1973 P. W. M CORMICK BULK HAULING FREIGHT CAR UNLOADLNG APPARATUS AND METHOD 'OF OPERATION 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet May 7, 1974 Flled Aug 13 May 7, 1974 P w. MCCORMICK T9ZZ,002 BULK HAULING FREIGHT CAR UNLOADLNG APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATION filed Aug. 15 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 1, 1974 P. w. MCCORMICK T922002 I BULK HAUL-ING FREIGHT CAR UNLOADLNG APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATION Filed Aug. 13. 1973 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS 

